Yokomichi Oukubo

Oukubo is stubborn, observant and deeply committed to keeping his word. Hiroko describes him as someone who will honor a promise even when the promise was made with a person he dislikes.

He does not flaunt his position in ordinary life. He frequents the Akaishi family's store and sometimes meets Momiji Tsukishima in the park, presenting a far less formal image than his title might suggest.

His stubbornness is balanced by a strong sense of institutional responsibility. He is willing to let competing sides prove their claims and then enforce the agreed result rather than protecting whichever side happens to have more administrative influence.

Oukubo's authority comes from his position as chairman rather than baseball ability. He can intervene in Seishuu's administration and hold senior staff accountable for their decisions.

He is also an attentive spectator. During the conflict between the varsity and prefab teams, he watches enough baseball personally to form his own understanding of the players and coaches involved.

Oukubo becomes directly involved when Seishuu's divided baseball program reaches a breaking point. He watches the first prefab-versus-varsity game with Aoba Tsukishima, giving him first-hand knowledge of the supposedly inferior squad's ability.

During the later rematch, he moves between the two benches and observes both sides. When the prefab team wins, Oukubo enforces the prior agreement that the losing team be dissolved and its coach removed rather than allowing Daimon's favored status to override the result.

He also removes interim principal Eitaro Shidou after financial mismanagement comes to light, ending the administrative arrangement that had supported Daimon's program.

Hiroko Oukubo is Oukubo's granddaughter. She shares his seriousness about promises but deliberately avoids exploiting Yokomichi Oukubo's powerful position for personal advantage.

Aoba Tsukishima watches the first varsity-prefab game alongside Oukubo, giving him an informal companion while he evaluates the contest.

Eitaro Shidou serves as Seishuu's interim principal under Oukubo's board. Oukubo eventually removes him after his administrative and financial problems are exposed.

Shuugo Daimon's position as varsity coach ultimately depends on the agreement Oukubo enforces after the decisive internal game.

Momiji Tsukishima occasionally encounters Oukubo in the park.

Osamu Akaishi's family operates the liquor store where Oukubo is a regular customer.